Animal-trap.



j Patented lune 17,1902. 'l

B. PoLK & T. .1.Ywo'on.

ANIMAL-.,-TRA'R A (Application med mr. 24, xgo.)

2 shts-sheet l,

v(No Model.)

U m n j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAYLOR POLK AND THOMAS J. WOOD, OFOLIFF, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Iatent No. 702,676, dated June 17, 1902.

Application tiled March 24, 1902. Serial No. 99,745. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that we, BAYLOE POLK and THOMAS J. WOOD, of Cliff, in the county of Grant and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in animal-traps, and particularly to the class known as jaw-traps, the object of the in-A vention being to so construct and arrange the several parts that when pressure is applied upon the treadle or actuating-lever the jaws will be released-from their set position.

Afurther object of the invention is to simplify the construction of traps of this char- -acter, whereby danger of the accidental displacement, loss, or derangement of the essential parts thereof is avoided.

With these objects in View our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.-

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a view of our improved trap in its open or set position. Fig. 2 is a view of same in its closed position. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken at right angles to each other through the'center of Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a modification.'

A represents our improved trap, the base or "supporting structure of which comprises a plate 1 and a cross-plate 2, which is located at right angles to plate l and is rigidly secured thereto by the rivet 4. The ends of plate 1 are bent upwardly and are each provided with an inwardly-projecting stud 5, on which the respective bent ends of bar 6 are supported, the connection being such as to permit the bar to freely swing back and forth on said studs. This swinging bar 6 is provided near eachy of its bent ends with an upwardly-projecting post 7, and pivoted in the bifurcated ends of the latter are the ends of the jaws 8 8, which are so supported within said posts as to permit of their being moved away from or toward each other, as occasion may require.

The actuating spring or springs 9 are of the type commonlyemployed in jaw-traps. Each vspring is in the 'form of a V, the lower member having a head with an lopening there-z bifurcated head of the latter, the said opening being smaller than said bifurcated head, so that it is retained against upward movement thereon, but is free to turn laterally on said post. The free end or head of the upper member of this spring is provided with an opening sufliciently large to take in the bi-f furcated head of the post 7, so that the upper member of the spring can be depressed onto the lower member, and thus leave the jaws free to be opened. When the jawsare closed, this upper member rests well up around the 'jaws and forms a positive lock therefor, whichl absolutely prevents the jaws 'from being opened until the upper member of theV spring has been depressed to a point below the pivotal points of the jaws. One spring 9 may be sufcient; but, if desired, one

'may be employed at each end of the jaws, as shown'in the modified form to be hereinafterrcferred to.

through which embraces the post 7 below the By loosely mounting both members of y rigid hook or catch l5, the said hook or catch l5 being formed by bending the opposite end of plate 2 upwardly and outwardly, as shown.

ln order to limit the movement of treadle or actuating-lever 12, we have provided same with a shoulder 16, which is so located with respect to the bifurcated end-10 of cross-plate 2 that as soon as the treadle or actuating-lever has been 'elevated suificiently for lug or catch 14 to engage its jaw the shoulder will make contact with said end 10 and prevent further upward movement.

Cross-plate 2 is provided with a stop 17, which latter is slotted at its upper end for the free passage and movement of treadle or actuating-lever 12, and in addition to guiding treadle or actuating-lever 12 is also adapted to limit the down ward movement of thejaw engaged by lug or catch 14, whereby thespringing of the jaws, due to a pressure applied either by design or accident thereon, is absolutely avoided. Hence it will be seen that in order to spring the trap it will be necessary to apply pressure directly upon the platform or on that part of the treadle or actuatinglever adjacent thereto.

To set the trap, the free end or ends of the spring or springs 9 are depressed to points below the pivoted ends of jaws 8 8, after which the latter are opened and swinging or rocking bar 6 turned or rocked sufficiently to carry the positive jaw to the outside of hook or catch 15 and in a position to be engaged thereby. The other jaw or the one hereinafter termed the advancejawis then pressed over post 17, and as soon as it comes in contact therewith the treadle or actuating-lever is elevated and lug or catch 14 brought into locking engagement with said jaw.

Were the jaws supported on a fixed or movable plate it would be impossible to employ a fixed catch for holding one of the jaws, as it is clearly evident that such jaw could not engage the fixed catch. With the jaws mounted on a rocking support the latter can be so rocked as to carry one jaw to the outside of the fixed catch and will necessarily be rocked in the opposite direction to carry the other jaw in its position to engage the catch on the actuating-lever, and it is this rocking movement that carries the jaw into contact with the fixed catch. When the actuating-lever or treadle is depressed, as it must be to release its jaw, the jaw thus released begins to close; but as the other jaw is still held by the fixed catch the spring in its efforts to close the jaw previously released turns the rocking bar, and thus carries the other jaw from under the fixed catch, thus freeing said jaw and permitting it to close. While the jaw retained by the actuating-lever or treadle begins to close before the other jaw, it moves but a slight distance before the other jaw is also released. Hence they come together in a plane but slightly to one side of the vertical center of the trap.

In the form of trap represented in Figs. 5 and 6 two treadles or actuating-levers 2O 2O are employed, each of which is constructed substantially like treadle or actuating-lever l2. (Illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.) These treadles or actuating-levers are loosely connected together adjacent to their inner ends by a pin-and-slot connection, so as to provide for their simultaneous elevation and depression. The platform 21 is made in two sections and are so located on the treadles or actuating-levers as to aline with one another when the latter are in their elevated positions. By dispensing with slotted post or stop 17 and the fixed hook or catch 15 and employing in lieu of the latter a second treadle or actuating lever adapted to be loosely coupled up with its mate it will be seen that pressure applied on either of the jaws or platform will cause the trap to operate. To set this form of trap, the free ends of springs 9 9 are iirst depressed to points below the pivoted ends of jaws 8 8, after which the latter are opened and depressed and finally engaged by the catches 14, which latter operation is accomplished by simply elevating the loosely-connected inner ends of the treadles or actuating-levers 2O 20.

This trap is not only capable of being sprung in the usual manner common in traps of this type-that is, by exerting pressure upon the platform-but is also capable of being operated when pressure is exerted upon either of its jaws or upon either or both of its treadles or actuating-levers. Should an animal tread upon either of the jaws and exert pressure sufficient to spring the trap, the jaw upon which the animal stands will be held against movement, but the opposite jaw will be free to approach its mate and by the assistance of swinging bar G, upon which the jaws are pivotally mounted, be brought into engagement with the depressed jaw,or rather in a position to effect acapture of the animal operating the trap, and by mounting the jaws on a swinging or rocking bar the jaws are free to swing over toward the animal, thus operating to carry the jaws well under the i'oot, so as to get a firm and substantial grip thereon.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made Without avoiding our invention, and hence we would have it understood that we do not restrict ourselves to` the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a jaw-trap, the combination with a base or support and means carried thereby for locking the spring-actuated jaws in their open position, of a swinging bar mounted on said base or support, and spring-actuated jaws pivotally supported ou said swinging bar.

2. In a jaw-trap, the combination with a swinging bar and a pair of spring-actuated jaws mounted thereon, of a iixed and a movable catch for engaging said spring-actuated jaws.

3. In a jaw-trap, the combination with a base or support, a ixed and a movable catch carried thereby, of a swinging bar mounted on the base or support, and spring-actuated jaws pivotally supported on said swinging IIO bar, one of said jaws engaging the movable catchand the other the fixed catch.

4. In a jaw-trap, a base or support comprising two plates secured together at right angles to one another, one of said plates being provided with a fixed and a movable catch, of a swinging bar mounted on vthe' other member of said base or support and springactuated jaws pivotally supported ony said swinging bar and adapted to engage the fixed and movable catches, substantially as set forth.

5. In a jaw-trap, the combination with a base or support and jaw-holding devices carried on ysaid support, of a swinging bar mount` ed on the base or support, and spring-actuated jaws pivotally'supportedv on said swinging bar and adaptedto engagethe jaw-holding devices. j 'j v 6. The combinationwith a rocking bar `and Sik jaw-holding devices, of jaws mounted on said u rocking bar and adapted vto be engaged by y said devices and V-shaped springs for actuy atingsaid jaws, the said springs being mountf ed'on the studs or posts carrying the jaws, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we'have signed this i specilication in the presence of two'subs'crib-- ing witnesses.

BAYLOR PoLK.

Witnesses:

ED.` A. LAYNE, F. P. JONES.

" THOMAS JuwooD. Y 

